Cost of Living in Chiang Mai
Summary of cost of living in Chiang Mai, Thailand:
- The estimated monthly costs for a family of four are 2,116.7$ (68,115.8฿), excluding rent (using our estimator).
- The estimated monthly costs for a single person are 576.2$ (18,541.6฿), excluding rent.
- Chiang Mai is 66.3% less expensive than New York (excluding rent, see our cost of living index).
- Rent in Chiang Mai is, on average, 90.0% lower than in New York.
Restaurants |  Edit |
Range |
|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | 2.18 $ | |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | 19.42 $ | |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | 7.77 $ | |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | 2.18 $ | |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 3.81 $ | |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | 1.83 $ | |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | 0.78 $ | |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | 0.34 $ | |
Markets | Edit |
|
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | 1.91 $ | |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | 1.57 $ | |
| White Rice (1 lb) | 0.53 $ | |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | 2.16 $ | |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | 7.01 $ | |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | 1.34 $ | |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | 5.25 $ | |
| Apples (1 lb) | 1.19 $ | |
| Bananas (1 lb) | 0.46 $ | |
| Oranges (1 lb) | 0.79 $ | |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | 0.71 $ | |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | 0.61 $ | |
| Onions (1 lb) | 0.52 $ | |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | 0.84 $ | |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | 0.51 $ | |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | 18.65 $ | |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | 1.76 $ | |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 2.93 $ | |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | 4.44 $ | |
Transportation | Edit |
|
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | 0.93 $ | |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | 55.94 $ | |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | 1.24 $ | |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | 1.50 $ | |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | 1.86 $ | |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | 1.25 $ | |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | 21,752.64 $ | |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | 27,418.69 $ | |
Utilities (Monthly) | Edit |
|
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | 66.22 $ | |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | 14.02 $ | |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | 18.72 $ | |
Sports And Leisure | Edit |
|
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | 45.45 $ | |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | 3.98 $ | |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | 7.15 $ | |
Childcare | Edit |
|
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | 817.34 $ | |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | 15,500.66 $ | |
Clothing And Shoes | Edit |
|
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | 57.36 $ | |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | 25.96 $ | |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | 98.88 $ | |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | 80.01 $ | |
Rent Per Month | Edit |
|
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 461.39 $ | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 272.55 $ | |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 930.44 $ | |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 537.84 $ | |
Buy Apartment Price | Edit |
|
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | 188.00 $ | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | 140.36 $ | |
Salaries And Financing | Edit |
|
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | 633.67 $ | |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 5.82 | |
Prices in Chiang Mai
This city had 593 entries in the past 12 months by 46 different contributors.
Last update: 4 March 2026
Last update: 4 March 2026
Sources and References
Moving to Chiang Mai? Explore:
Distribution of Expenses Using Our Statistical Model:
Nearby Cities:| Cost of Living in Chiang Rai | 116.48 miles |
| Cost of Living in Mae Sot | 218.93 miles |
| Cost of Living in Phitsanulok | 242.68 miles |
This Page in Other Languages:
 DeutschLebenshaltungskosten in Chiang Mai
|
 PortuguêsCusto de Vida em Chiang Mai
|
 ItalianoCosto della vita a Chiang Mai
|
 FrançaisCoût de la vie à Chiang Mai
|
 EspañolCoste de vida en Chiang Mai
|
Salary Calculator:Got a job offer in Chiang Mai? Estimate your take-home pay with our Salary Calculator for Chiang Mai.
How do I find a rental unit prior to being there?
Your advice is much appreciated.
That said, if you are comfortable with the tropics, and with a third world country, and a place where few inhabitants speaks any language other than their native tongue, it seems a great place to retire!
And the person talking about the Rats.... HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO NEW YORK...hahaha.. Chiang Mai is a great place and i can't wait to go back...
For someone seeking to expatriate for retirement, the Quality of Life metric could be adjusted, since a retiree is not relying on local income. I assume the Quality of Life also takes into account the average income of local inhabitants, and if their purchasing power is low, this might not matter too much to a retiree from a more affluent country.
You might want to give some thought to that.
Thank you for everything!